All about Marlee Matlin

Marlee Matlin is an amazing actress who has done many impressive things in her life. She was born on August 24, 1965, in Morton Grove, Illinois. When Marlee was just 18 months old, she lost her hearing because of an illness. Even though she couldn't hear, she didn't let that stop her from doing what she loved.

Marlee loved acting from a young age and joined a theater group for deaf people. She worked very hard and was very talented. Her big break came when she starred in a movie called "Children of a Lesser God" in 1986. She was so good in the movie that she won an Academy Award, which is a very special prize for actors. She was the first deaf person to win this award!

Marlee didn't stop there. She acted in many TV shows and movies and even wrote books. She also became a strong advocate for people with disabilities, helping to make sure they have the same opportunities as everyone else. Marlee shows us that no matter what challenges we face, we can achieve great things if we work hard and follow our dreams.

1. Where was Marlee Matlin born?
2. What happened to Marlee when she was 18 months old?
3. What is the name of the movie that gave Marlee her big break?
4. Why is Marlee Matlin's Academy Award win special?
5. How does Marlee Matlin inspire people?

Symbols and Traditions

Hi! My name is Thomas, and I am 8 years old. Guess what? I just visited Hollywood! It was so much fun and super exciting. One of the coolest things I learned about is Marlee Matlin. She is a famous actress who is deaf. Marlee Matlin is amazing because she showed everyone that you can be a great actor even if you can't hear. I really wanted to learn more about her, so my family and I went to see her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It was so shiny and had her name on it!

We also visited the Hollywood Museum. They had a special exhibit about famous deaf actors, and Marlee Matlin was one of them. I got to see some of the costumes she wore in movies and TV shows. It was cool to learn about how she uses sign language to act. I even tried to learn some sign language myself. I learned how to say "Hello" and "Thank you." It was a lot of fun and made me appreciate how hard she worked to be an amazing actress.

Hollywood is a really fun place, and learning about Marlee Matlin made it even more special. I can't wait to tell all my friends about it!

1. Who did Thomas visit in Hollywood?
2. What special exhibit did Thomas see in the Hollywood Museum?
3. Why is Marlee Matlin an important figure for Thomas?
4. How did Thomas feel about learning sign language?
5. What can you infer about Thomas's interests based on his visit to Hollywood?

Profile of Marlee Matlin

A Timeline of Marlee Matlin to another Festival

After learning all about Marlee Matlin, your job is to create a timeline of their life. You should add all the important events in their life but you can be inventive and add some interesting things that people might like to read about. You can make it as simply as you like with pen and paper or you can be very inventive and create a 3D diorama or hanging banner. The sky's the limit - go for it!

Slideshow - Marlee Matlin
A full set of teaching plans for Marlee Matlinteaching.